Who Are ICE And What Do They Do?

The bail bondsmen at 1800Libertad.com affiliates have a lot of experience with the ins and outs of ICE and what they do, but typically speaking, our clients might not, and if you or your loved ones have been detained by ICE, it is important to understand who they are and what they do.

The mission statement of ICE or Immigrations and Customs Enforcement is “ICE’s primary mission is to promote homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration.”

According to the ICE website, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the second largest investigative agency in the federal government. Created in 2003 through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, ICE now has more than 20,000 employees in more than 400 offices in the United States and 46 foreign countries.

Their job basically breaks down into protecting the borders of the United States in various forms, but for our clients, that typically means having been detained for an immigration infraction such as illegally immigrating, visa violations, or other such infractions. Typically these people will find themselves in one of the many ICE detention facilities awaiting a court appearance. There are times when they will be released on bail, such as a voluntary departure bond, or delivery bond.

ICE duties do not stop there though. Their duties include protecting the borders from incoming threats from people as well as products. For example, ICE also inspects all incoming cargo containers and other vessels that enter the USA at all ports of entry, whether people or goods arrive via airplane, boat, car or foot! They also investigate human trafficking, gangs and drug cartels. As such it is their job to ensure the safety of all people within the country. This is a huge task, and while they often receive negative publicity for the raids that are conducted on urban areas suspected of having a high concentration of  illegal immigrants, they do an admirable job of keeping us all safe.

What happens while in ICE custody is also fairly clear and doesn’t change, especially once a client has exercised their right to legal representation. Of course, a reputable bail bondsman will be able to give you recommendations for good legal counsel.